MONITORING, EVALUATION & LEARNING MANAGER (Contingent on funding) At Mercy Corps

Under the Climate Resilience Component of the “Building Resilience and Addressing Vulnerability to Emergencies (BRAVE) Programme“, Mercy Corps is seeking an experienced and dynamic Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) Manager.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Manager is a key staff position and will work closely with the Country MEL Manager in upholding quality programming and reporting to the Team Leader under the BRAVE programme. S/he will continue to strengthen a coordinated BRAVE MEL system: facilitating the design, set-up and implementation of standard monitoring and evaluating processes in collaboration with programme managers and in alignment with Mercy Corps’ global MEL policy and minimum standards. S/he will be responsible for information management, using standard Mercy Corps systems such as TolaData and CommCare. The MEL Manager will ensure that information collected is 1) reflected on; 2) used to make effective and evidence-based programmatic decisions; and 3) incorporated into consistently high-quality reports and proposal development. S/he will be responsible for fostering a culture of reflection and adaptive management and will lead in strengthening the MEL capacity of the staff and Partners. Supporting in developing institutional development plans for the local partners.

Essential Job Responsibilities:

MEL SYSTEM DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT:

• Design the BRAVE MEL system with utility and programme quality in mind, providing the programme team with real-time data and learning that can inform adaptive management;
• Design and finalize the key MEL inception deliverables of the BRAVE programme: M&E Plan, Learning Plan, MEL Technology Plan
• Support the programme team to ensure high quality MEL processes exist and are supported:
• Lead in designing data collection tools, executing data collection activities, and providing guidance on analysis, and visualization to inform adaptive management.
• Coordinate with the Country MEL Manager and programme teams to document challenges with MEL processes and provide leadership to improve them.
• Conduct internal periodic data quality assessments and collaborate with the Team Leader and Programme Manager to address shortfalls in MEL that affect program implementation.
• Design the MEL system of the programme, including the data management system.

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT & REPORTING:

• Coordinate the data collection, analysis and validation of data on key performance indicators across partners
• Conduct needs assessment and develop a subsequent MEL training plan for relevant partners
• Manage TolaData, ensuring that programme teams are capturing results in Mercy Corps internal indicator tracking software and utilizing them to improve program quality.
• Train staff and partners on TolaData use.
• Oversee MEL contributions to programmatic reporting (weekly, monthly, quarterly, annual, final, etc).
• Streamline the partner reporting system by semi-automating data collection, cleaning, and visualization via PowerBI.
• Support the programme team to generate high-quality, timely and accurate reports for the donor.

LEARNING:

• Develop and oversee programme level learning agendas and development of success stories.
• Design and oversee MEL assessments and learning activities contributing to overall learning and evidence.
• Contribute to and facilitate quarterly and ad hoc learning cross-partner workshops
• Disseminate program reflection learnings and recommendations to team members, participants and other relevant audiences

MEL COORDINATION AND MEL CAPACITY BUILDING:

• Build the MEL capacity of our local partner organizations through ongoing training and support on: monitoring tools, entering program data into databases, the development of MEL reports and other documents.
• Strengthen the capacity of the MEL Officer(s) to improve their ability to analyze and represent results to donors, government, partners, and communities
• Support in organizing and maintaining information on partners, sectors, and activities, which involves keeping documents up-to-date
• Support with identification of MEL capacity gaps and put together MEL capacity building plans
• Ensure that the tools, data and systems used across partners are harmonized and that the reporting system is consistent with the M&E Plan
• Provide support for MEL training and MEL capacity building to all BRAVE and local partners staff on programme reporting.
• Liaise with the third party monitoring to ensure that data is available, reporting accurate and that there is sufficient evidence base for the scope of the BRAVE Consortium.

TEAM MANAGEMENT:

• Develop and implement plans to mentor and coach staff to build their capacity
• Foster a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence
• Lead a team of MEL Officers
• Ensure coordination with MEL staff across partners.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:

Supervision of MELOfficer(s), Partners staff reporting lines.

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Climate & Resilience Team Leader

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Partners staff and activity Team Members

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

• Masters in social Sciences, management, international development, environmental sciences or other relevant field
• 3-4 years of experience in the areas of program development and monitoring and evaluation, including relevant experience building and managing an M&E system and team, and building staff capacity
• Must have extensive experience working I/NNGOs and key donors including FCDO
• High degree of computer literacy required including proficiency in the following packages: Excel, Open Data Kit, CommCare, PowerBI . Statistical software experience is an advantage
• Extensive experience with mixed-methods. Experience in qualitative methods is a big plus. Proven leadership, training, and capacity building experience
• Fluency in written and oral English
• Ability to produce clear and concise documentation
• Ability to manage and meet deadlines and work independently on multiple priorities